When Phantoms Come Calling: Reading by Katherine Lawrence; Hangman: The True Story of Canada’s First Official Executioner: Book launch and discussion with author Julie Burtinshaw; Michael Mirolla and Friends: Visiting and local poets gather for shared reading; Trasiego: Voices of Uprooting and Re-rooting: An exploration of issues related to uprooting and re-rooting, place, migration, and memory created by Dafne Blanco-Sarlay and Carmen Rodríguez.
When Phantoms Come Calling:
Sun, Oct 16, 3:00 PM
Katherine Lawrence reads at Historic Joy Kogawa House on Sunday, October 16, 3 to 4:30pm. She will read from her poetic memoir Black Umbrella (Turnstone Press, 2022) and from Stay (Shadow Paw Press Reprise Editions, 2022).
Vancouver writer Shaena Lambert will facilitate the conversation to follow. Please join us!
Hangman: The True Story of Canada’s First Official Executioner:
Sun, Oct 23, 4:00 PM
John Radclive hates being called Hangman. He is no murderous thug; he is a highly trained executioner who relies on science to bring God’s mercy to condemned criminals. As Canada’s first official executioner, he revels in the salary, status, and perks that come with the job. In his off hours, he enjoys masquerading as Thomas Ratley, steward at Toronto’s prestigious Sunnyside Rowing Club where he secretly sneers at the hypocrisy of the Canadian elite.
But dispensing mercy presumes that the condemned are guilty. The more convicted felons he meets, the more Radclive begins to question the Canadian justice system and his role within it—perhaps he is a hangman after all.
Please join us for this book launch and discussion with author Julie Burtinshaw.
Musical interludes and refreshments provided.
Books for sale and signing.
Michael Mirolla and Friends:
Thu, Oct 27, 7:30 PM
Visiting and local poets gather for shared reading.
(Tickets on Sale Oct 6!)
Trasiego: Voices of Uprooting and Re-rooting
Tue, Nov 8, 7:00 PM
(Tickets on Sale Oct 6)
Trasiego is a multilingual, participatory installation and soundscape of poetry, visual, and digital art created by Dafne Blanco-Sarlay and Carmen Rodríguez—an exploration of issues related to uprooting and re-rooting, place, migration, and memory.
Historic Joy Kogawa House is proud to collaborate with the Vancouver Latin American Cultural Centre (VLACC) to launch Trasiego. With poetry reading by Carmen Rodriguez.
Announcing Fall 2022 Writer-in-Residence:
Carmen Rodríguez
We are pleased to announce Carmen Rodríguez as our Fall 2022 writer-in-residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House.
Carmen Rodríguez is the award-winning author of Guerra Prolongada / Protracted War (poetry) and a body to remember with/De cuerpo entero (short stories); Retribution (a novel), and most recently Atacama (a second novel).
Rodríguez also has an extensive career as an educator and journalist, including work in adult literacy and popular education, particularly with Indigenous Peoples and other marginalized communities in the Americas. Carmen Rodríguez is an Honorary Elder of Vancouver Latin American Cultural Centre (VLACC) and has served as an elected member of The Writers’ Union of Canada’s National Council, where she has given voice to traditionally marginalized writers and advocated for more equitable policies for the literary community as a whole.
Carmen Rodríguez will write in residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House in October, November, and December 2022 – three months of uninterrupted work to finish two first drafts: a volume of poetry and a collection of short stories.
In October, Carmen Rodríguez will present the following program of events to engage local writers:
- Tuesday evening writing group, 6 to 8pm
- Sunday, October 16, 3 to 4:30pm – When Phantoms Come Calling, poet Katherine Lawrence in conversation with Shaena Lambert
- Sunday, October 23, 4 to 5:30pm – Hangman: The True Story of Canada’s First Official Executioner, novelist Julie Burtinshaw book launch
- Thursday, October 27, 7:30 to 9pm – Michael Mirolla and Friends, poetry reading
- Tuesday, November 8, 7 to 8:30pm – Trasiego launch and poetry reading
Sign up on Eventbrite.
Later in her residency, Carmen Rodríguez will present the following writing programs:
- Thursday, November 10 – VLACC short story reading group
- Thursday, November 24 – TWUC-sponsored reading
- Tuesday, December 6 – poetry writing workshop – Spanish
- Thursday, December 8 – short story writing workshop – English
Details to be announced. Visit our website to sign up for our e-newsletter for details.
Email info@kogawahouse.com for more information.